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When witnesses went to help, McMahon was unconscious and Sebastinelli, who was bleeding from his head, ran off.

The taxi driver said in a victim statement: "I'm totally shocked and feel sick.

"I really feared for my life and thought I was going to be stabbed.

"My livelihood has gone as I've lost my car."

Paul Sebastinelli, 52, of Adelphi Place, Walker, who has 161 previous convictions, admitted unlawful wounding, robbery, aggravated vehicle taking, having a bladed article, failing to provide a specimen, having no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. He was jailed for eight years.

Ronald Sebastinelli, 58, of Welbeck Road, Walker, who has 60 previous convictions, admitted unlawful wounding and was jailed for two years.

McMahon, formerly of Denmark Street, Byker, who has 13 previous convictions and was on a community order at the time for failing to prevent unnecessary suffering to an animal, pleaded guilty to aggravated allowing herself to be carried in a stole car and was jailed for eight months.

Jill McMahon, jailed for eight months for aggravated allowing to be carried in a stolen car (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

No evidence was offered in relation to the assault for McMahon and Caroline Cochrane, 42, of Welbeck Road, Walker. Cochrane was cleared of any wrongdoing and walked free.

The prosecution cannot say which of the two men used the weapon during the assault.

Rachel Hedworth, for Paul Sebastinelli, claimed the assault victim had been "preying" on her client, who she was was "extremely vulnerable".

She added: "He was not really capable of looking after himself and the death of his mother has had a significant effect on him."